Martin Kaymer and Magnus Carlsson shared the lead on seven under par halfway through the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Strong winds and cold conditions saw most of the field struggle around The Old Course at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.

German Kaymer had reached seven under par on Thursday with an opening 65 at Kingsbarns and he lay second overnight after a 72 at St Andrews.

He bogeyed the par three eighth today at Carnoustie but a birdie at the ninth took him back to seven under at the turn and into a share of the lead as overnight leader Markus Brier fell back to five under.

Sweden’s Carlsson was one of only a handful of players under par for their round.

He played seven holes at Carnoustie in one under after starting at the tenth thanks to birdies at the two par fives on the back nine, the 12th and 14th, with a bogey at the 15th.

José-Filipe Lima was a shot further back on six under after eight holes at Carnoustie, the Portuguese player alongside Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden who was through seven holes at the same course.